Market food

Mexican markets are places to wander, gossiping with passers-by whilst waiting for tacos, tostadas and quesadillas to be cooked in front of you. Mouth-watering smells, vibrant colours and the hustle-bustle of the market feed the senses and lift the spirits.

There are as many ways of eating as there are flavours. Have a light snack or antojitos (little treats) with drinks; share small dishes with friends or have a hearty meal all to yourself.

TacosFamous, yet misunderstood, “taco” to most Europeans means a crisp shell filled with chilli con carne. However, traditional tacos from Mexico are soft, corn tortillas with delicious toppings. Salsas and hot sauces are added before the taco is half-rolled, half-folded and eaten up. Fillings vary from slow-cooked pork to sautéed cactus and courgette. Messy but delicious.

TostadasA small tortilla gently-fried or toasted until crisp and topped with an assortment of fresh ingredients. It is lighter than a taco, often topped with salads. Tostadas are typically eaten as a snack or an accompaniment to something more substantial. Try our chicken guajillo or the ceviche topping.

Quesadilla(“kay-sah-dee-uh”), comes from the Spanish, meaning “little cheesy thing”. Tortillas are filled with a selection of ingredients, mostly accompanied with cheese, before being folded and griddled until the inside is melting hot and the outside toasted. Try our fiery chicken tinga recipe from the heart of Mexico City or perhaps our very own home-made chorizo with thyme and potato.

Taquito(“tah-kee-toh”) means little taco. It consists of a small corn tortilla, filled with shredded meat or fresh vegetables, rolled into a narrow flute shape and lightly fried. Our marinated chicken is delicious but our seasonal favourite is the new potato with mint and habanero salsa. Naughty but very nice.

Platos FuertesWhy not come in and have something all to yourself? From our meltingly tender pork pibil, our rich, filling grills, our wholesome soups or our light, healthy salads, we have a huge range or recipes for you to get your teeth into.

ChurrosOf all our puddings, churros have to be our favourite. The most delicious of Mexico’s pastry based snacks, churro stalls are found all over Mexico. The Mexican equivalent of doughnuts (but shaped like the horns of the Churro sheep). Churros are best eaten piping hot, coated with sugar and cinnamon, served with a rich chocolate dipping sauce. Just how we make them! Thoroughly wicked.

DrinksAmongst our fine tequilas, our carefully chosen wines and our wide range of soft drinks, our most popular drink on the menu is our agua fresca. An agua fresca or “fresh water”, was first created as a balance to the spiciness of Mexican food and as an antidote to the heat of Mexico. Made from water, fruit, flowers, herbs and sugar, come rain or shine, our home made hibiscus agua fresca is a real winner.

BurritoJust because it’s healthy, doesn’t mean it can’t be hearty…introducing the burrito, full of everything the body needs for the day and a little bit more.

Founded in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua the burrito uses a large flour tortilla to literally wrap a host of freshly cooked ingredients together. It is then lightly toasted until the tortilla is slightly charred and then eaten as a wrap. The further north you go the more ingredients you find being put into a burrito.

A “traditional” burrito might just have a meat filling like Chicken Pibil mixed with refried beans but as you move towards the more “americanised” parts of north Mexico, rice, cheese, guacamole and lettuce are added. Try the full range at Wahaca.